JOT (TV series)

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JOT (also known as JOT the Dot) was an American animated children's television program. The series consisted of thirty 4 minutes episodes, which were syndicated between 1965 and the 1980's. The series was produced by the Southern Baptist Radio and Television Commission (RATC) as a Baptist version of Davey and Goliath.

The series was created by Ruth Byers, a graduate of Baylor University, and Ted Perry, a writer at the RATC. They had been commissioned by Dr. Paul Stevens, president of the RTVC, to develop a television show that would provide simple moral lessons for young children. Production of the first episodes began in 1959, with the first episode released in 1965.

The style of the show was kept deliberately simple, both as a cost-cutting measure (the budget for the early episodes was never more than US$25,000, and dropped over time), and to prevent the design from intefering with the delivery of the message. The main character, JOT, is a white circle with simple facial feature (similar to a smiley), hands and feet. His hands and feet are only seen when he is still; when he is in motion, they disappear. JOT's name may be a reference to Matthew 5:18, "For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled."

The voice of JOT was provided by two perfomers, Lou Kelly (1965-1967, and 1968-1981), and Colleen Collins (1967). The series premiered on Peppermint Place, a Sunday children's show produced locally at KFAA in Fort Worth, Texas. The episodes were eventually sydicated throughout the world, translated into 19 different languages. They were also a favorite of Sunday School programs.

The series remained in regular production until 1974. In 1981, several additional episodes were produced. The series is seldom seen on mainstream television today.

[edit] Trivia

On the 1980's Christian children's series Joy Junction, parts of a JOT episode would occasionally air.
Tug was played by Ed Ruth and was a "bad" character that always learned a moral lesson in the end.